GP sees benefits in obesity disease calls

A Bundaberg-based GP says more needs to be done to address rising obesity rates in the Wide Bay Burnett.

A report by Obesity Australia is calling for the Federal Government to recognise obesity as a disease and allow for medical intervention into the condition.

Dr Denise Powell says categorising obesity as a disease will allow more people to access extra services.

"In our area, because we have such a high prevalence of obesity, anything that contributes to solutions would be helpful," she said.

"I don't know whether the debate about disease or not adds value, it's allowing doctors to say this person is at high risk of disease because of their obesity and can we please access some more support for them."

Dr Powell says any small steps will help.

"It would allow people to have care plans from their general practitioner, to access help from dieticians and exercise physiologists that may help them understand how to improve their health and how to lose weight," she said.